Facile Synthesis of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Heterojunctions of Glycolated Conjugated Polymer-TiO2-X for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The utilization of the organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalysts for water splitting has gained significant attention due to their ability to combine the advantages of both materials and generate synergistic effects. However, they are still far from practical application due to the limited understanding of the interactions between these two components and the complexity of their preparation process. Herein, a facial approach by combining a glycolated conjugated polymer with a TiO2-X mesoporous sphere to prepare high-efficiency hybrid photocatalysts is presented. The functionalization of conjugated polymers with hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) side chains can not only facilitate the dispersion of conjugated polymers in water but also promote the interaction with TiO2-X forming stable heterojunction nanoparticles. An apparent quantum yield of 53.3% at 365 nm and a hydrogen evolution rate of 35.7 mmol h-1 g-1 is achieved by the photocatalyst in the presence of Pt co-catalyst. Advanced photophysical studies based on femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and in situ, XPS analyses reveal the charge transfer mechanism at type II heterojunction interfaces. This work shows the promising prospect of glycolated polymers in the construction of hybrid heterojunctions for photocatalytic hydrogen production and offers a deep understanding of high photocatalytic performance by such heterojunction photocatalysts.

Optimizing Photoelectrochemical UV Imaging Photodetection: Construction of Anatase/Rutile Heterophase Homojunctions and Oxygen Vacancies Engineering in MOF-Derived TiO2.

Self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) ultraviolet photodetectors (UVPDs) are promising for next-generation energy-saving and highly integrated optoelectronic systems. Constructing a heterojunction is an effective strategy to increase the photodetection performance of PEC UVPDs because it can promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. However, both crystal defects and lattice mismatch lead to deteriorated device performance. Here, we introduce a structural regulation strategy to prepare TiO2 anatase-rutile heterophase homojunctions (A-R HHs) with oxygen vacancies (OVs) photoanodes through an in situ topological transformation of titanium metal-organic framework (Ti-MOF) by pyrolysis treatment. The cooperative interaction between A-R HHs and OVs suppresses carrier recombination and accelerates carrier transport, thereby significantly enhancing the photodetection performance of PEC UVPDs. The obtained device realizes a high on/off ratio of 10,752, a remarkable responsivity of 24.15 mA W-1, an impressive detectivity of 3.28 × 1011 Jones, and excellent cycling stability. More importantly, under 365 nm light illumination, a high-resolution image of "HUST" (the abbreviation of Harbin University of Science and Technology) was obtained perfectly, confirming the excellent optical imaging capability of the device. This research not only presents an advanced methodology for constructing TiO2-based PEC UVPDs, but also provides strategic guidance for enhancing their performance and practical applications.

The resistance of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic microorganisms to ofloxacin in sludge anaerobic digestion process.

Ofloxacin (OFL) is a commonly used antibiotic that can enter wastewater treatment plants and be adsorbed by the sludge, resulting in a high OFL concentration in sludge and affecting the subsequent sludge anaerobic digestion process. However, the micro mechanisms involved in this process have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, this study focuses on the effect of OFL on the sludge anaerobic digestion of sludge to provide such support. The experimental results showed that the maximal methane yield decreased from 277.7 to 164.7 mL/g VSS with the OFL concentration increased from 0 to 300 mg/L. Additionally, OFL hindered the intermediate biochemical processes of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and acetoclastic methanogenesis. However, it promoted hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis process, using H2 as substrate, with the concentration of 300 mg/L OFL was 5.54 fold methane production of that in the control. Further investigation revealed that the negative effect of OFL was likely due to the induction of reactive oxygen species, which led to a decrease in cell activity and interference with the activity of key enzymes. Microbiological analysis revealed that OFL reduced the relative abundance of hydrolysis and acidogenesis bacteria, and Methanosaeta archaea, while increasing the relative abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis microorganism from 36.54% to 51.48% as the OFL concentration increase from 0 to 300 mg/L.

Untangling the interplay of dissolved organic matters variation with microbial symbiotic network in sludge anaerobic fermentation triggered by various pretreatments.

Various pretreatments are commonly adopted to facilitate dissolved organic matter (DOM) release from waste activated sludge (WAS) for high-valued volatile fatty acids (VFAs) promotion, while the interplay impact of DOM dynamics transformation on microbial population and metabolic function traits is poorly understood. This work constructed "DOM-microorganisms-metabolism-VFAs" symbiotic ecologic networks to disclose how DOM dynamics variation intricately interacts with bacterial community networks, assembly processes, and microbial traits during WAS fermentation. The distribution of DOM was altered by different pretreatments, triggering the release of easily biodegradable compounds (O/C ratio > 0.3) and protein-like substance. This alteration greatly improved the substrates biodegradability (higher biological index) and upregulated microbial metabolism capacity (e.g., hydrolysis and fatty acid synthesis). In turn, microbial activity modifications augment substance metabolism level and expedite the conversion of highly reactive compounds (proteins-like DOM) to VFAs, leading to 1.6-4.2 fold rise in VFAs generation. Strong correlations were found between proteins-like DOM and topological properties of DOM-bacteria associations, suggesting that high DOM availability leads to more intricate ecological networks. A change in the way communities assemble, shifting from stronger uniform selection in pH10 and USp reactors to increased randomness in heat reactor, was linked to DOM composition alterations. The ecologic networks further revealed metabolic synergy between hydrolytic-acidogenic bacteria (e.g., Bacteroidota and Firmicutes) and biodegradable DOM (e.g., proteins and amino sugars) leading to higher VFAs generation. This study provides a deeper knowledge of the inherent connections between DOM and microbial traits for efficient VFAs biosynthesis during WAS anaerobic fermentation, offering valuable insights for effective WAS pretreatment strategies.

Enhanced methane production from waste activated sludge by microbial electrolysis cell assisted anaerobic digestion: Fate and effect of humic substances.

Humic substances as major components of waste activated sludge are refractory to degrade and have inhibition in traditional anaerobic digestion (AD). This study for the first time investigated the feasibility and mechanism of microbial electrolysis cell assisted anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) to break the recalcitrance and inhibition of humic substances. The cumulative methane production of AD decreased from 134.7 to 117.6 mL/g-VS with the addition of humic acids and fulvic acids at 25.2-102.1 mg/g-VS. However, 0.6 V MEC-AD maintained stable methane production (155.5-158.2 mL/g-VS) under the effect of humic substances. 0.6 V MEC-AD formed electrical stimulation on microbial cells, provided anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction transformation pathways for humic substances (acting as carbon sources and electron shuttles), and aggregated functional microorganisms on electrodes, facilitating the degradation of humic substances and generation of methane. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving the energy recovery and system stability of sludge treatment.

Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate presence inhibits methane production from anaerobic digestion: Alterations in organic matter transformation, cell physiological status, and microbial community.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used in consumer products, leading to their unavoidable release into the environment, especially accumulation in anaerobic environments and posing potential risks. This study focused on Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), a representative OPFR, to investigate its effects on carbon transformation and methane production in anaerobic digestion. Increasing TCEP concentrations from control to 16 mg/L resulted in decreased cumulative methane yield (from 235.4 to 196.3 mL/g COD) and maximum daily methane yield (from 40.8 to 16.17 mL/(g COD·d)), along with an extended optimal anaerobic digestion time (from 15 to 20 days). Mechanistic analysis revealed TCEP binding to tyrosine-like proteins in extracellular polymeric substances, causing cell membrane integrity impairment. The TCEP-caused alteration of the physiological status of cells was demonstrated to be a significant contribution to the inhibited bioprocesses including acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. Illumina Miseq sequencing showed TCEP decreasing the relative abundance of acidogens (58.8 % to 46.0 %) and acetogens (7.1 % to 5.0 %), partly shifting the methanogenesis pathway from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. These findings enhance understanding of TCEP's impact on anaerobic digestion, emphasizing the environmental risk associated with its continued accumulation.

Mitigation of Triclocarban Inhibition in Microbial Electrolysis Cell-Assisted Anaerobic Digestion.

Triclocarban (TCC), as a widely used antimicrobial agent, is accumulated in waste activated sludge at a high level and inhibits the subsequent anaerobic digestion of sludge. This study, for the first time, investigated the effectiveness of microbial electrolysis cell-assisted anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) in mitigating the inhibition of TCC to methane production. Experimental results showed that 20 mg/L TCC inhibited sludge disintegration, hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis processes and finally reduced methane production from traditional sludge anaerobic digestion by 19.1%. Molecular docking revealed the potential inactivation of binding of TCC to key enzymes in these processes. However, MEC-AD with 0.6 and 0.8 V external voltages achieved much higher methane production and controlled the TCC inhibition to less than 5.8%. TCC in the MEC-AD systems was adsorbed by humic substances and degraded to dichlorocarbanilide, leading to a certain detoxification effect. Methanogenic activities were increased in MEC-AD systems, accompanied by complete VFA consumption. Moreover, the applied voltage promoted cell apoptosis and sludge disintegration to release biodegradable organics. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the applied voltage increased the resistance of electrode biofilms to TCC by enriching functional microorganisms (syntrophic VFA-oxidizing and electroactive bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens), acidification and methanogenesis pathways, multidrug efflux pumps, and SOS response.

Efficient degradation of venlafaxine using intimately coupled high-active crystal facets exposed TiO2 and biodegradation system: Kinetic studies, biofilm stress behavior and transformation mechanism.

Intimately coupled photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) system is a potential wastewater treatment technology, of which TiO2-based ICPB system has been widely studied. There are many ways to improve the degradation efficiency of the ICPB process, but no crystal facet engineering method has been reported yet. In this work, a new ICPB system coated with NaF-TiO2 exposing high energy facets was designed to degrade biorecalcitrant psychotropic drug - venlafaxine (VNF). Initially, the TiO2 crystal surface was modified with NaF, resulting in the formation of NaF-TiO2 with a 14.4% increase in the exposure ratio of (001). The contribution rate of ·OH was increased by 9.5%, and the contribution rate of h+ was increased by 33.2%. Next, NaF-TiO2 was loaded onto the surface of the sponge carrier, and then the ICPB system was constructed after about 15 days of biofilm formation. After the ICPB system was acclimated with VNF, the removal rate of COD decreased significantly (the lowest was 62.7%), but that of ammonia nitrogen remained at 50.5 ± 6.0% and the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion increased by 84.1 mg/g VSS. According to the high throughput results, at the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi together maintain the nitrogen removal capability and structural stability of the ICPB system. The relative abundance of Bacteroidota was significantly increased by 14.2%, suggesting that there may be some correlation between Bacteroidota and certain metabolites of the anti-depressant active ingredients. At the genus level, the Thauera (3.1%∼11.5%) is the major bacterial group that secretes EPS, protecting biofilm against external influences. Most of the changes in microorganisms are consistent with the decontamination properties and macroscopic appearance of EPS in the ICPB system. Finally, the degradation efficiency of ICPB system for VNF was investigated (92.7 ± 3.8%) and it was mostly through hydroxylation and demethylation pathways, with more small molecular products detected, providing the basis for biological assimilation of VNF. Collectively, the NaF-TiO2 based ICPB system would be lucrative for the future degradation of venlafaxine.

Tannic Acid Modulation of Substrate Utilization, Microbial Community, and Metabolic Traits in Sludge Anaerobic Fermentation for Volatile Fatty Acid Promotion.

Anaerobic fermentation is a crucial route to realize effective waste activated sludge (WAS) resource recovery and utilization, while the overall efficiency is commonly restrained by undesirable disruptors (i.e., chemical dewatering agents). This work unveiled the unexpectedly positive effects of biodewatering tannic acid (TA) on the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) biosynthesis during WAS anaerobic fermentation. The total VFAs yield was remarkably increased by 15.6 folds with enriched acetate and butyrate in TA-occurred systems. TA was capable to disintegrate extracellular polymeric substances to promote the overall organics release. However, TA further modulated the soluble proteins structure by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in the decrease of proteins bioavailability and consequential alteration of metabolic substrate feature. These changes reshaped the microbial community and stimulated adaptive regulatory systems in hydrolytic-acidogenic bacteria. The keystone species for carbohydrate metabolism (i.e., Solobacterium and Erysipelotrichaceae) were preferentially enriched. Also, the typical quorum sensing (i.e., enhancing substrate transport) and two-component systems (i.e., sustaining high metabolic activity) were activated to promote the microbial networks connectivity and ecological cooperative behaviors in response to TA stress. Additionally, the metabolic functions responsible for carbohydrate hydrolysis, transmembrane transport, and intracellular metabolism as well as VFA biosynthesis showed increased relative abundance, which maintained high microbial activities for VFAs biosynthesis. This study underscored the advantages of biodewatering TA for WAS treatment in the context of resource recovery and deciphered the interactive mechanisms.

Association of smart elderly care and quality of life among older adults: the mediating role of social support.

BACKGROUND: In the current context of ageing, the field of smart elderly care has gradually developed, contributing to the promotion of health among older adults. While the positive impact on health has been established, there is a scarcity of research examining its impact on the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to investigate the mediating role of social support in the relationship between smart elderly care and QoL among older adults. METHODS: A total of 1313 older adults from Zhejiang Province, China, participated in the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data on participants' basic demographic information, smart elderly care, social support, and QoL. The descriptive analyses of the demographic characteristics and correlation analyses of the three variables were calculated. Indirect effects were tested using bootstrapped confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The analysis revealed a positive association between smart elderly care and social support (ß = 0.42, p < 0.01), as well as a positive correlation between social support and QoL (ß = 0.65, p < 0.01). Notably, social support emerged as an important independent mediator (effect size = 0.28, 95% bootstrap CI 0.24 to 0.32) in the relationship between smart elderly care and QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study underscore the importance of promoting the utilization of smart elderly care and improving multi-faceted social support for older adults, as these factors positively contribute to the overall QoL.

Exposure of polyethylene microplastics affects sulfur migration and transformation in anaerobic system.

Polyethylene (PE) microplastic, which is detected in various environmental media worldwide, also inevitably enters wastewater treatment plants, which may have an impact on anaerobic processes in wastewater treatment. In this work, the effect of PE microplastics on anaerobic sulfur transformation was explored. Experimental results showed that PE microplastics addition at 0.1%- 0.5% w/w promoted H2S production by 14.8%-27.4%. PE microplastics enhanced the release of soluble organic sulfur and inorganic sulfate, and promoted the bioprocesses of organosulfur compounds hydrolysis and sulfate reduction. Mechanism analysis showed that PE microplastics increased the content of electroactive components (e.g., protein and humic acids) contained in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In particular, PE microplastics increased the proportion and the dipole moment of α-helix, an important component involved in electron transfer contained in extracelluar protein, which provided more electron transfer sites and promoted the α-helix mediated electron transfer. These enhanced the direct electron transfer ability of EPSs, which might explain why PE microplastics facilitated the bioprocesses of organosulfur compounds hydrolysis and sulfate reduction. Correspondingly, metagenomic analysis revealed that PE microplastics increased the relative abundance of S2- producers (e.g., Desulfobacula and Desulfonema) and the relative abundance of functional genes involved in anaerobic sulfur transformation (e.g., PepD and cysD), which were beneficial to H2S production in anaerobic system.

Investigation of the Absorption Spectrum of InAs Doping Superlattice Solar Cells.

InAs doping superlattice-based solar cells have great advantages in terms of the ability to generate clean energy in space or harsh environments. In this paper, multi-period InAs doping superlattice solar cells have been prepared.. Current density-voltage measurements were taken both in the dark and light, and the short-circuit current was estimated to be 19.06 mA/cm2. Efficiency improvements were achieved with a maximum one sun AM 1.5 G efficiency of 4.14%. Additionally, external quantum efficiency and photoluminescence with different temperature-dependent test results were taken experimentally. The corresponding absorption mechanisms were also investigated.

The Impact of Bisphenol A on the Anaerobic Sulfur Transformation: Promoting Sulfur Flow and Toxic H2S Production.

Bisphenol A (BPA), as a typical leachable additive from microplastics and one of the most productive bulk chemicals, is widely distributed in sediments, sewers, and wastewater treatment plants, where active sulfur cycling takes place. However, the effect of BPA on sulfur transformation, particularly toxic H2S production, has been previously overlooked. This work found that BPA at environmentally relevant levels (i.e., 50-200 mg/kg total suspended solids, TSS) promoted the release of soluble sulfur compounds and increased H2S gas production by 14.3-31.9%. The tryptophan-like proteins of microbe extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) can spontaneously adsorb BPA, which is an enthalpy-driven reaction (ΔH = -513.5 kJ mol-1, ΔS = -1.60 kJ mol-1K -1, and ΔG = -19.52 kJ mol-1 at 35 °C). This binding changed the composition and structure of EPSs, which improved the direct electron transfer capacity of EPSs, thereby promoting the bioprocesses of organic sulfur hydrolysis and sulfate reduction. In addition, BPA presence enriched the functional microbes (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Desulfuromonas) responsible for organic sulfur mineralization and inorganic sulfate reduction and increased the abundance of related genes involved in ATP-binding cassette transporters and sulfur metabolism (e.g., Sat and AspB), which promoted anaerobic sulfur transformation. This work deepens our understanding of the interaction between BPA and sulfur transformation occurring in anaerobic environments.

Adsorption Behavior of NO and NO2 on Two-Dimensional As, Sb, and Bi Materials: First-Principles Insights.

To address the most significant environmental challenges, the quest for high-performance gas sensing materials is crucial. Among numerous two-dimensional materials, this study investigates the gas-sensitive capabilities of monolayer As, Sb, and Bi materials. To compare the gas detection abilities of these three materials, we employ first-principles calculations to comprehensively study the adsorption behavior of NO and NO2 gas molecules on the material surfaces. The results indicate that monolayer Bi material exhibits reasonable adsorption distances, substantial adsorption energies, and significant charge transfer for both NO and NO2 gases. Therefore, among the materials studied, it demonstrates the best gas detection capability. Furthermore, monolayer As and Sb materials exhibit remarkably high capacities for adsorbing NO and NO2 gas molecules, firmly interacting with the gas molecules. Gas adsorption induces changes in the material's work function, suggesting the potential application of these two materials as catalysts.

Self-Assembled BiGaSeAs Composite Superlattice-Structured Nanowire for Broad-Band Photodetection.

Photodetectors with a broad-band response range are widely used in many fields and are regarded as pivotal components of the modern miniaturized electronics industry. However, commercial broad-band photodetectors composed of traditional bulk semiconductor materials are still limited by complex preparation techniques, high costs, and a lack of mechanical strength and flexibility, which are difficult to satisfy the increasing demand for flexible and wearable optoelectronics. Therefore, researchers have been devoted to finding new strategies to obtain flexible, stable, and high-performance broad-band photodetectors. In this work, a novel self-assembled BiGaSeAs composite superlattice-structured nanowire was developed with a simple chemical vapor deposition method for easy fabrication. After the device assembling, the photodetector showed outstanding performance in terms of obvious Ion/Ioff (13.9), broad-band photoresponse (365-940 nm), excellent responsivity (1007.67 A/W), high detectivity (9.38 × 109 Jones), and rapid response (21 and 23 ms). The formation of microheterojunctions among various materials inside the nanowires also contributed to their extended broad-spectrum response and outstanding detection ability. These results indicate that the BiGaSeAs nanowires have potential applications in the field of flexible and wearable electronics.

Metagenomic insights into the toxicity of carbamazepine to functional microorganisms in sludge anaerobic digestion.

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) contained in sludge, such as carbamazepine, may be toxic to microorganisms and affect the biogenesis of methane during anaerobic digestion. In this study, different scales of anaerobic digesters were constructed to investigate the inhibitory effect of carbamazepine. Results showed that carbamazepine reduced methane production by 11.3 % and 62.1 % at concentrations of 0.4 and 2 mg/g TS, respectively. Carbamazepine hindered the dissolution of organic matter and the degradation of protein. Carbamazepine inhibited some fermentative bacteria, especially uncultured Aminicenantales, whose abundance decreased by 9.5-93.4 % under carbamazepine stress. It is worth noting that most prior studies investigated the effects of CECs only based on well-known microorganisms, ignoring the metabolisms of uncultured microorganisms. Genome-predicted metabolic potential suggested that 54 uncultured metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) associated with acidogenesis or acetogenesis. Therein, uncultured Aminicenantales related MAGs were proved to be acetogenic fermenters, their significant reduction may be an important reason for the decrease of methane production under carbamazepine stress. The toxicity of carbamazepine to microorganisms was mainly related to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. This study elucidates the inhibition mechanism of carbamazepine and emphasizes the indispensable role of uncultured microorganisms in anaerobic digestion.

Innovative overview of the occurrence, aging characteristics, and ecological toxicity of microplastics in environmental media.

Microplastics (MPs), pollutants detected at high frequency in the environment, can be served as carriers of many kinds of pollutants and have typical characteristics of environmental persistence and bioaccumulation. The potential risks of MPs ecological environment and health have been widely concerned by scholars and engineering practitioners. Previous reviews mostly focused on the pollution characteristics and ecological toxicity of MPs, but there were few reviews on MPs analysis methods, aging mechanisms and removal strategies. To address this issue, this review first summarizes the contamination characteristics of MPs in different environmental media, and then focuses on analyzing the detection methods and analyzing the aging mechanisms of MPs, which include physical aging and chemical aging. Further, the ecotoxicity of MPs to different organisms and the associated enhanced removal strategies are outlined. Finally, some unresolved research questions related to MPs are prospected. This review focuses on the ageing and ecotoxic behaviour of MPs and provides some theoretical references for the potential environmental risks of MPs and their deep control.

Intelligent multifunctional ruthenium monoatomic/ZnAl-LDH photocatalysts for simultaneous detection and rapid degradation of antibiotics.

The construction and precise synthesis of materials based on functional and structural orientations have emerged as a pivotal platform in the field of environmental management. In this paper, an efficient and stable catalyst (RuLDH) was constructed to achieve this goal. RuLDH comprises individual Ru atoms that are uniformly dispersed on ZnAl-LDH, achieved by room temperature stirring. Remarkably, RuLDH exhibits exceptional performance under visible light, effectively triggering the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) with a remarkable efficiency of 100%, all while avoiding the generation of highly toxic intermediates. In addition, RuLDH0.2 demonstrated its utility in fluorescence detection of TC, showcasing commendable analytical performance characterized by rapid response, low detection limit, and robust resistance to environmental interferences (with a detection limit of 1.0 mg/L). Notably, the RuLDH0.2/PMS/Vis system exhibited remarkable efficacy in treating actual pesticide wastewater, effectively exerting bactericidal and disinfectant effects. This study serves as a source of inspiration for the design of multifunctional single-atom catalysts, thereby pushing the boundaries of "integration of diagnosis and treatment" in environmental management and control.

Effects of Mixtures of Engineered Nanoparticles and Cocontaminants on Anaerobic Digestion.

The widespread application of nanotechnology inevitably leads to an increased release of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) into the environment. Due to their specific physicochemical properties, ENPs may interact with other contaminants and exert combined effects on the microbial community and metabolism of anaerobic digestion (AD), an important process for organic waste reduction, stabilization, and bioenergy recovery. However, the complicated interactions between ENPs and other contaminants as well as their combined effects on AD are often overlooked. This review therefore focuses on the co-occurrence of ENPs and cocontaminants in the AD process. The key interactions between ENPs and cocontaminants and their combined influences on AD are summarized from the available literature, including the critical mechanisms and influencing factors. Some sulfides, coagulants, and chelating agents have a dramatic "detoxification" effect on the inhibition effect of ENPs on AD. However, some antibiotics and surfactants increase the inhibition of ENPs on AD. The reasons for these differences may be related to the interactive effects between ENPs and cocontaminants, changes of key enzyme activities, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and microbial communities. New scientific opportunities for a better understanding of the coexistence in real world situations are converging on the scale of nanoparticles.

A high-performance and self-powered polarization-sensitive photoelectrochemical-type Bi2O2Te photodetector based on a quasi-solid-state gel electrolyte.

Among the two-dimensional (2D) Bi2O2X (X = S, Se, and Te) series, Bi2O2Te has the smallest effective mass and the highest carrier mobility. However, Bi2O2Te has rarely been investigated, most likely due to the lack of feasible methods to synthesize 2D Bi2O2Te. Herein, 2D Bi2O2Te nanosheets are successfully synthesized by low-temperature oxidation of Bi2Te3 nanosheets synthesized using a solvothermal method. The performance of a quasi-solid-state photoelectrochemical-type (PEC-type) photodetector based on 2D Bi2O2Te nanosheets is systematically investigated. Remarkably, the device has a high responsivity of 20.5 mA W-1 (zero bias) and fast rise/fall times of 6/90 ms under 365 nm illumination, which is superior to the majority of PEC-type photodetectors based on bismuth-based compounds. More importantly, due to the strong anisotropy of 2D Bi2O2Te nanosheets, the device achieves a dichroic ratio as high as 52, which belongs to the state-of-the-art polarized photodetectors. Besides, the capacity of 2D Bi2O2Te for high-resolution polarization imaging is demonstrated. This work provides a promising strategy for the synthesis of 2D Bi2O2Te nanosheets to fabricate a high-performance and polarization-sensitive photodetector.